Coroner's Finding: PIRRI Pasquale

CORONERS ACT, 2003 SOUTH AUSTRALIA FINDING OF INQUEST An Inquest taken on behalf of our Sovereign Lady the Queen at Adelaide in the State of South Australia, on the 15th day of July 2016 and the 12th day of September 2016, by the Coroner’s Court of the said State, constituted of Mark Frederick Johns, State Coroner, into the death of Pasquale Pirri.

The said Court finds that Pasquale Pirri aged 90 years, late of 12 Wayford Street, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia died at the Modbury Hospital, Smart Road, Modbury, South Australia on the 20th day of October 2014 as a result of acute myocardial infarction on a background of ischaemic heart disease, pneumonia, delirium and cognitive impairment. The said Court finds that the circumstances of his death were as follows:

1. Introduction and reason for Inquest 1.1. Mr Pasquale Pirri was 90 years of age when he died on Monday, 20 October 2014 at the Modbury Hospital. At the time of his death Mr Pirri was subject to orders obtained under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1993, including those requiring Mr Pirri to be and live in a place directed by his daughter. By virtue of these orders Mr Pirri was, in the eyes of the law, detained. Accordingly, his was a death in custody within the meaning of that expression in the Coroners Act 2003 and this Inquest was held as required by section 21(1)(a) of that Act and for no other reason.

2. Cause of death 2.1. An opinion as to Mr Pirri’s cause of death has been provided by Dr Iain McIntyre of Forensic Science South Australia. His pathology review report1 provides the cause of death as acute myocardial infarction on a background of ischaemic heart disease, pneumonia, delirium and cognitive impairment, and I so find.

1 Exhibit C2a

3. Background 3.1. Mr Pirri suffered hereditary heart problems. His close relatives also experienced these problems and one of his children had actually predeceased him. He had undergone a double heart bypass many years prior to his death, and five to six years before his death he had a pacemaker inserted. Twelve months prior to his death Mr Pirri was diagnosed with dementia.

3.2. In 2014 Mr Pirri had two admissions to the Lyell McEwin Health Service. On 21 August 2014 he was found in his driveway by a neighbour, having fallen from his own gopher, and taken to hospital. He was diagnosed with pneumonia during that admission and discharged on 9 September 2014.

3.3. On 2 October 2014 he was admitted after another fall. It was noted that he had lost approximately 10 kilograms since his previous admission and he remained at the Lyell McEwin Health Service until 10 October 2014 when he was transferred to the Specialist Geriatric Ward of Modbury Hospital, the GEM Ward.

3.4. In October 2014 Mr Pirri’s daughter applied to the Guardianship Board for orders under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1993. The orders were granted, and included powers vested in the daughter to direct where Mr Pirri must be and live.

3.5. Mr Pirri’s decline 3.6. On 13 October 2014 Mr Pirri suffered a myocardial infarction. After this it was quite clear to the doctors involved in Mr Pirri's care that he was at the end stage of life, and palliative measures were commenced. He continued to refuse all oral intake.

3.7. On 19 October 2014 Mr Pirri had a further episode of chest pain, was noted to be short of breath with tachycardia and associated troponin elevation. Mr Pirri died on 20 October 2014 at 4:34pm.

3.8. I have nothing further to add.

Key Words: Death in Custody; Section 32 Powers; Natural Causes In witness whereof the said Coroner has hereunto set and subscribed his hand and Seal the 12th day of September, 2016.

State Coroner Inquest Number 28/2016 (1834/2014)